Man called yesterday wanting me to sign up for a winter deicing crew job (on call) at Denver International. Flattering, as I had worked on his crew before. Said no, even though the money is good. My knees and my stamina are not what they once were and the equipment is open bucket.
In the picture above, the sprayers are working from enclosed cabs with heaters and wipers. Open bucket is this.
No matter how much protective clothing you wear, you will be exposed to the deicing fluid (glycol) used to melt the existing ice and the anti icing fluid that goes on the cleaned surfaces if precipitation is falling. Not to mention the elements and the many non stop hours during a major event. The wind will carry the stuff everywhere.
The driver of the truck also gets out and sprays landing gear and runs his hand across surfaces on the smaller regional jets. It is wet, nasty work with many chances for slips and falls. Being a 1944 model, don't think I want to learn how long my broken bones will take to heal.
Should have put off getting old for a few more years.
8 comments:
I know that would be a horrible job... I agree with the no thanks.
Maybe they should cover airports!! Turn them all into large patios. :)
Having been in an airplane while being de-iced. The smell of it was strong in the cabin air system. Always wondered what side effects there would be. As a grunt and AO exposed vet....I wonder.
Ami, it is a job of work. In an enclosed cab, it can be a big boy toy type of fun. You can drive the truck from the spray cab. Gets a little busy. Only did that once when we had two people get sick on a shift.
Supposedly, the formulations used on airplanes are harmless. The heated glycol used to deice is used on pads where drains capture the spill, and the stuff is recycled. The anti ice (Type 4 treatment as it is called) stays on the surfaces until a certain airspeed is reached where it then "shears" off. Obviously, that stays in the atmosphere and falls to ground somewhere. The airplane has a short time frame to get into the air before the Type 4 gets contaminated by precipitation. Too long to takeoff and the airplane returns to the pad where the entire process is repeated.
Health hazard? I don't know, but I won't work an open bucket for any money. One exception, clearing nacelles at the gates prior to engine start up.
Once again you are using common sense. What is wrong with you?
Sisty
Getting old and weak.
Good idea, sometimes the money is just NOT worth it...
Don't regret the decision so much as the reasons I made it. Damn this getting old!
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